Faulty DNA rearrangements in B cells that start B‑cell (lymphoid) cancers
Official title: Aberrant V(D)J recombination in B cells initiates lymphoid malignancy
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11258890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how abnormal DNA breaks in developing B cells may lead to B‑cell cancers, to help people with or at risk for lymphoid malignancies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $337,449 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276470-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with B‑cell lymphomas or leukemias, or those with early B‑cell abnormalities or a relevant family history, would be most directly relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated conditions (for example, solid‑tumor cancers) or those needing immediate treatment changes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory and sequencing research.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are using DNA maps from thousands of people with B‑cell cancers together with lab experiments on developing B cells to see where dangerous chromosome breaks happen. They focus on small fragile zones in the DNA, how single‑stranded DNA forms there, and how the enzymes AID and an activated form of Artemis might cut that DNA to create breaks. The team combines human breakpoint sequencing data, cell and biochemical studies, and engineered models to trace the stepwise events that lead to translocations. Understanding these steps could point to ways to detect or block the earliest events that start many B‑cell cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could explain what causes many chromosome breaks that start B‑cell cancers and suggest new ways to detect or prevent those events.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked V(D)J errors and AID to B‑cell translocations, but pinpointing specific human fragile zones and the role of activated Artemis is a newer and less‑tested direction.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pannunzio, Nicholas — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Pannunzio, Nicholas
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.